Rebel (SVU Fanfic)

31

Olivia's mouth watered and her stomach grumbled when the smell hit her nostrils. She couldn't have anything too spicy, but the beans and tomatoes and such all was just reminding her how hungry she was. Her head leaned down to her enlarging bump.

"Are you hungry baby?" she asked quietly.

As expectant mothers do, she answered to herself. "Yeah, we're eating soon."

She rubbed her stomach, then felt little twitches. "El, come here!" Olivia quickly said.

Rushing back to her, he sat down. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she said excitedly. "Feel."

She guided his hands to where the ripples were coming from. "Someone's kicking."

A smile crossed Elliot's face, and it made Olivia melt. He never got to do this. He never got to watch a pregnancy with awe like that. He had to watch in fear of his brother and his girlfriend hurting an innocent little being. But both of those kids were striving, and he was forever grateful.

The timer beeped and Elliot got up to finish the cooking. When it was done, he poured two bowls for Olivia and himself, then a smaller two bowls for Zach and Paige. The teens could fight for the rest. There was more than enough for everyone, but still.

"Dinner!" Elliot called, then quickly grabbed the two bigger bowls. Stepping out of the way of Dickie, he then walked down to the living room.

"Thank you," Olivia said, accepting her bowl. She started eating quickly.

When they were both done, Olivia snuggled up to Elliot on the couch and he turned on the TV. On instinct, Elliot reached for a blanket and draped it over Olivia's body. With an arm around her, his fingers played with her hair.

Within minutes, Elliot noticed Olivia's breathing was slower and more rhythmic; she was asleep.

He smiled to himself and kissed her forehead, falling asleep himself as well.

~•~

"Before we start today, Nicole, I was wondering if you'd like to try out a support group."

"Support group?"

"Yeah. You wouldn't be so one-on-one, all the time, anyways. You could listen and interact with those your age. It could help, if you talk to others, and see how others have gotten through it," Dr.Kendall told her.

She thought about it. It didn't sound like a great idea. These other kids, he made it sound like, were over depression and anxiety. They would judge her, make those faces that meant they were trying to hide a laugh. They'd ask her questions to embarrass her. She couldn't have that. She couldn't take the attention. She never liked attention. And once she landed herself in the hospital, it was her worst nightmare.

A shaky hand traveled to her lips, and a fingernail slid between her teeth. It took milliseconds for the bitter, spicy taste of that nail-biting polish she now wore.

"Ew," she weakly whispered, then looked up at her doctor.

"See, that stuff works."

She rolled her eyes and leaned back. "Well whatever. I don't want to do group."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't feel like being judged or talked to by someone my age. Just tell me what's wrong with me and we'll be fine."

Dr.Kendall knew this was a good choice for Nicole. It was the only way to get her to open up: see she wasn't alone and one can overcome difficult times. "Do you really want that, though?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Because I could sit here all day long and stare are you, force you to answer things you really don't want to. I judge you. I have to. To make sure we get somewhere. I'm judging you right now," he told her.

As insanely creepy as it was, she knew he was right and that she truly was contradicting herself. But still, she didn't want to do this. She told him so.

"Please don't make me."

"One session. Lots of people do that. In and out if they don't like it."

Nicole weighed the pros and cons in her head, much like her mother did. Deciding trying wouldn't be the worst mistake she ever made - as far as she could tell anyways - she agreed.

"Okay."

With that, Dr.Kendall excused her. "The next group session is in the room at the end of this hall. It'll have a sign on it. Thursday night, 7:30."

She nodded. "Thank you," was her final statement as she headed for the door.

~•~

"Sissy, play!"

Nicole snapped from her thoughts at the feeling of her sister tugging her hand. "Not now Paigey," she said, standing up from the couch in the basement.

"But you promised!"

"Sissy doesn't feel good right now. She needs to rest. See if Lizzie will play with you."

"But I want you to play with me! You promised!"

Nicole had been on edge all day. She had her first group in three hours and could not keep herself from thinking about all the things that could go wrong.

"I'll play with you tomorrow, Paige! Jeez, just leave me alone!" Nicole said harshly, then jogged up the stairs. As she made her way to the stairs that led from the living room to the main floor, Elliot was going down. She pushed him out of the way and kept walking.

"Hey!" Elliot yelled at her; she ignored him. He grabbed her arm but she quickly shook herself free. "Where do you think you're going?"

"What does it matter? Just leave me alone," she scolded in an angry tone.

"You're not going anywhere," Elliot told her, daring her to try to leave the house. But then they heard Paige's cries from downstairs.

Elliot glared at the teenager for a half second then went down to get Paige. Nicole just rolled her eyes and continued to go where she pleased.

Elliot didn't notice, obviously. He saw Paige standing at the bottom of the stairs, balling.

"What's wrong?" he asked as he picked her up.

"Nicki don't love me no more!" she wailed before crying more.

Turning back around, Elliot yelled, "Nicole! Get over here!" as he went back up the stairs.

But she wasn't there.

Nicole had just gotten to the end of the driveway when she heard her name. And the fact she was able to hear Elliot yell her name at all scared the shit out of her. Not knowing where she was going, she took off, running.